Most and Least Reliable Dishwasher Brands

No brand is completely immune to problems, and a brand’s quality can fluctuate over time due to changes in design or production. But our survey reveals that dishwashers from certain brands are significantly less likely than others to experience problems during their first five years. Using our reliability ratings, you can increase your chances of…

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Best All-Season Tires for Winter Driving

To be clear: If you live in the snow belt and face harsh winter driving conditions, winter/snow tires are your best bet. But if you have the ability to wait until roads are cleared before traveling, there are some great choices in each all-season tire category for winter grip. Among the 52,235 sets of tires…

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If the US Has to Build Data Centers, Here’s Where They Should Go

Tech companies have invested so much money in building data centers in recent months, it’s actively driving the US economy—and the AI race is showing no signs of slowing down. Meta chief Mark Zuckerberg told President Donald Trump last week that the company would spend $600 billion on US infrastructure—including data centers—by 2028, while OpenAI…

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Best Places to Buy Large Appliances

These large-appliance stores, as well as independent retailers and websites, earned top marks in the most recent Consumer Reports survey of appliance retailers, conducted between January 2023 and May 2024. The survey responses were from 9,721 CR members who shared their experiences shopping for 12,970 large appliances. Overall, 17 of the 23 major appliance retailers…

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6 Best Espresso Machines of 2025, Tested and Reviewed

We evaluated both single-boiler and dual-boiler espresso machines. Each one operates a little differently. All of these models require you to pack coffee grounds into a portafilter, which you lock into the machine to brew espresso (as opposed to coffee makers that take pods or espresso machines that dispense the beans themselves), and they all…

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Is It Safe to Use a Space Heater in the Bathroom?

For additional protection, look for a space heater equipped with an appliance leakage current interrupter (ALCI) plug, says Samantha Ostrander, who oversees CR’s space heater tests. These bulky plugs—similar to those seen on hair dryers—safeguard against differences in current and can also protect against a dangerous electrical shock. Like GFCI outlets, ALCI plugs typically feature…

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Consumer Reports’ Guide to Defensive Driving

Look ahead, around, and behind. “It’s important to look where you want to go, scanning both far ahead and right in front of you,” Crossen says. “But don’t forget about what’s going on to the sides and behind you. You should check your rear- and side-view mirrors every 5 to 10 seconds. That can help…

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